**Arches National Park is implementing a reservation system for entry this year. If you are hoping to go you will need to book a time when reservations open on March 1st. Arches National Park is visible from the back of Under Canvas, and a short drive down the road! Be sure to get there early as the park has become very popular in recent years and lines can get long. The drive through the park is gorgeous in itself, but we also love the hike to see the Delicate Arch (the one on the license plate), as well as, the Double Arch. The park will have more information as well upon entry!
Canyonlands is on the other side of the highway from Arches. It gives a great overlook into the canyons formed by the Green River meets the Colorado River. Upper Canyonlands is about a 30-minute drive from Under Canvas. We recommend hiking Mesa Arch (0.5 miles) or the Grand View Point (2 miles). If you make it to the southern part of the park, about a two-hour drive south from Moab, the Needles and Confluence Point are some of our favorite hikes/spots.
This is where Jackie proposed during sunset in February of 2020! Dead Horse Point is a spectacular overlook of the canyons, that you might recognize from the show Westworld! Located right beside Canyonlands Park it is about a 30-minute drive from Under Canvas. You can hike the rim trail around it, or simply drive up to the overlook. This is a must-see while in Moab!
Castle Valley also boasts some of our favorite hikes in the Moab area! To get to Castle Valley you follow the Colorado River up 128. A scenic drive between the canyons this area boasts huge cliff walls and tons of color. We will float the river through here on Sunday, but if you'd like to go before then we recommend the Fisher Towers hike, as well as, Mary Jane Canyon. You can find more information on hikes on the app/website All Trails.
Another stunning National Park a 2-hour drive from Moab. This park is one of the designated "Dark Sky" parks. This means there is hardly any light pollution, so it's an incredible place to see the night sky. Just make sure you have a full tank of gas before heading that way.
Another one of the 5 national parks in Utah. Bryce Canyon boasts crazy Hoodoos, spiral towering formations carved from years of erosion. Bryce is a 4.5-hour drive from Moab. We recommend doing the "Fairyland Loop" trail.
Our favorite National Park. Located about 5 hours from Moab, and 2 hours from Bryce Canyon, Zion has breathtaking cliffs that tower over the valley. With tons of color and a quaint town (Springdale, UT) at the bottom of the valley, Zion is truly one of the most gorgeous spots on Earth. We recommend the Canyon Overlook hike, Pa'rus Trail, Angel's Overlook (for the bold hiker with a permit), and the Narrows.
Lake Powell is a man-made lake that straddles the UT/AZ border and is an 8-hour drive from Moab. (or 3-hours if you head to the top of the lake) Lake Powell, AZ is the home of Antelope Canyon and the Horseshoe Bend; you might recognize it from Britney Spears's "Not a girl, not yet a woman" music video. Antelope Canyon is one of the most famous slot canyons in the world; if you would like a tour, you have to book through the Navajo tour groups as it is on Navajo land. These book out frequently, so make sure to do this asap. If you are driving from Lake Powell to Zion I recommend stopping near Kanab to do the Wire Pass trail, which leads to another incredible slot canyon. If you are hiking through any slot canyon be sure to check the weather and water reports, it can be very dangerous if you are caught there during a storm.
See that picturesque view! There is nothing around Monument Valley but the views are incredible once you are there. You can also rent a jeep to off-road through the valley or book a tour! If you are headed to the Grand Canyon or Page from Moab, this is a great stop along the way. Monument Valley is a 2 hour and 45-minute drive from Moab.
The Grand Canyon is only a 5-hour drive from Moab and of course one of the most stunning places in the United States. We recommend staying at the South Rim, where there are more dining and hotel options. If you are up for a good hike we recommend "Bright Angel Point". Of course, you can also walk the Rim Trail and the views are spectacular.
If you want mountain views after the desert Telluride is the spot! There is tons to do in the cute town nestled at the base of the mountains. We recommend Bridal Falls, or Blue Lakes trails.
Ouray is another Colorado town nestled in the San Juan mountains, otherwise known as "The American Alps". The San Juans have tons of great hikes and OHV trails. Depending on the snow melt we highly recommend renting a Jeep to go off-roading for a day! Also one of our favorite hikes is called "Ice Lakes Basin", it is a leg-burner but the views at the top are worth it.